The South western news., 1887-10-26
HE DIDN'T RESIGN.
Telegraph Operator Murphy Turned
from His Dire Purpose by Story.


w. J. Murphy, who has succeeded
Benjamin Thomas as General Superind-
dent of the New York, Lake Erie and
Western Railroad, was few years ago
telegraph operator in the employ of
the Erie Company at Port Jervis. The
late George S. Redington, was Super
intendent of the Delaware Division,
with headquarters at Port Jervis Ben
iamin Thomas was the train dispatcher
of the same division, and w. J. Murphy
was his operator. Murphy was young
man, and his disposition was such that
he had an idea that it was fortunate
thing for the company's welfare that it
had placed him in charge of the work he
. had to do. Superintendent Redington
was an old railroad man, and they make
few like him nowadays. He was bluff
and emphatic in his intercourse with his
men, but a fellow of infinite jest withal.
One day Dispatcher Thomas did
something that wounded the dignity of
Operator Murphy, and the latter, re-
CARELESS of possible consequences to the
company, made up his mind to do some
thing desperate. He would resign I'M
less his superior apologized to him.
With this fearful determination in his
mind, he called on Superintendent Red
ington. He informed the rough and
bluff Superintendent of the indignity
that had befallen him at the hands of
Dispatcher Thomas, and, with an air
and tone that plainly indicated how
much he felt that the news would be q
source of unpleasant surprise and deep
regret to the Superintendent, as the rep
resentative of the company's best inter-
ests, said:
"And unless Mr.. Thomas apologies
to me, Mr. Redington, I shall resign
Superintendent Redington did not
start or show any sign Of agitation on
hearing this resolve of the young oper-
ator, but calmly finished writing an Or
der he was preparing. Then he leaned
back in his chair, pushed his hat on the
back of his head, put his thumbs in the
arm holes of his vest, and gazed pleas
antly ON the offended operator. Finally
he said.
Murphy, when was young man
was in the service of a railroad out
West. There were some fairly capable
railroad men over me, but got it in my
head that if it wasn't for me that rail-
road would in all probability stop right
where it was. Feeling that way, put
up with good many things rather than
make fuss and hurt the roads pros
poets; but one day got mad at some
thing that didn't suit me, and ] went to
the superintendent Office and sent in
my resignation. 1t was accepted with
out any one protesting or begging me to
stay"
At that point Superintendent Reding-
ton paused. He looked at Murphy a
minute or two with twinkle, and then
continued:
eyes, sir, Murphy, l resigned, and
do you know" said he, bringing his
hand down ON his table with loud rap,
"that that-railroad is running yet ?"
Murphy did not need any one to ex-
plain the application Of the Superin-
tendent's little story. All his usull con
ceit and self importance fell away from
him, and he went back to his post.
That was the making of him, and to-day
holding the highest Office in the operat-
ing department of the company's ser
vice he is always ready to laugh heart
lily over the way Superintendent Red
ington received his resignation fifteen
years ago.